Log carrier



' .May 29, 1945.

I E. K. ALLEN' LOG CARRIER Filed July 17, 1944 2 Shets-Sheat .1

May 29,1945. ALLEN 2,376,953

LOG CARRIER Fil d July 17, 1944- '2 Sheats-Sheet-2 zzz eziazzezz,

Patented May 29, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE j 2,376,953

LG CARRIER Ellie 1;. Allen, Creedmoor; N.,c. Application July 17, 1944, Serial No. 545,364 '1 Claims. (01. zit- 65.3)

The present invention relates to a vehicle for transporting articles and more particularly to an improved log carrier.

' An important object of the invention is to provide a log carrier or cart having a. pivotally connected tongue, with locking means for releasably securing the-rear end of the tongue to the carrier so that'the latter may be tilted rearwardly to facilitate the loading of thelogs, and which raises the logs to support them by the carrier, and also locks the tongue to the "carrier a the tongue is moved forwardly to bring" the rear end thereof into engagement with the locking means.

A further object consists in providing a chain or flexible member for suspending the logs from the carrieryand associating withthejcarrier a member for receiving an end portion of the chain to maintain the same in' any desired adjusted position. This member'is pivoted to the carrier and is normally held in a fixed position by retaining meansvwhich when released allows the member to swing about its pivot so as to discharge the logs. l

' Another object comprehends the provision of means associated with a log hauling device or similar vehicle, for facilitating the loading and is a rear-endview of Figure 1,

is a longitudinal sectional viewof the Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 1, v

Figure 5 is a detailed plan view showing the rear end of the tongue connected to the carrier by the locking means,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of Figure5,

Figure -7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1-1 of Figure 5, I

Figure 8 is a, detailed side elevation of the means for releasably connecting the chain to the carrier, and

' Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 99 of Figure 8. V j

Referring to the drawings, l0 designates a supporting frame or carriage preferably made of light durable metal and having at its rear end a transversely disposed curved 'bar or axle l I' (Figure 2) with which is associated:aninverted U- shaped member I2 having depending side arms I3 secured by'welding-or the like as at [4 to 'the ends of the bar ll. Stub axles l5 extend outwardly from'the lower sides of the arms l3 and have 'journalled thereon the traction wheels 16. Spaced angle shaped bars l1. extend outwardly from the bar II to provide a longitudinally and centrally disposed'recess or socket is (Figure 4) for receiving the rear endv portion of the tongue I or draft'pole l9 whichis. pivotally connected to the sides of the bars Hby'the'bolt 20. Side bars 2| and 22 of angle shapelin cross section are welded or otherwise connected at their rear ends flanges25 and 26 of the bars l1, 2| and 22,'to

provide additional reinforcements for the frame at theforward end theretof. The bottom' of the longitudinal recess l8' may be closed by a plate 21 welded to" the flanges 25 of the bar 11. The

longitudinal bars l1 and the side bars 2| and 22 are connected together tongue I9. f

The rear end of the recess I8 is spaced from the cross bar l2 and has mounted therein a yieldable'locki ng means for engagement with the rear end portion of the tongue Is to maintain the same in a fixed position. This locking means preferably comprises a metal member 28 extend ing transversely of the recess I8 and pivoted at its lower end to thesides of the bars I1 bythe bolt 29 (Figure 6). The upper end of the member 28 has a forwardly extending portion 30 that constitutes a shoulder for receiving the adjacent rear end 3| of the tongue IS. The portion 30 terminates in an upwardly and rearwardly curved, yieldable lip or flange 32 which is positioned in the path of movement. of the tongue so as to be actuated thereby. The rear end of the tongue i preferably formed with an inclined surface 33 which coacts with the lip 32 to force the member za'rearwardly about its pivot 29 to facilitate the engagement of the tongue with the shoulder 30.

to form hounds for the A lug 34 (Figure 5) extends upwardly from the I shoulder 30 of the member 28 and has pivotally connected thereto as at 35 a rod 36, the rear end of which extends loosely through a lug 3! on the bar I2. A coil spring 38 encircles the rod 3(iand is confined between the lugs and 31 so as normally tourge the in'ember28 forwardly; An opcrating lever 39 pivoted as at 40to one of the bars f v I1, has its outer end connected .to a rodor other;

suitableaotuating means 4|. The, other end of the lever 39 is connected by a chain 42 to a lug: 43 on the member'ZB (Figure 6) so that upon the V outer end of the lever 39 being moved forwardly,

the inner end thereof is swung rearwardlyjagainst the tension of the spring '38 in order to release;

, the end of the tongue from engagement with the shoulder 30.. The forward end'of. the tongue [9 out of engagement with the tongue, and as the rearward movement of the carrier is arrested by the brakes, the rear'end of the carrier is tilted downwardly so that the parts assume the position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. The chain 45 is then passed under the'log or logs 65 and the free end thereof is connected to the hook 48 of the member 47 which is now maintained in a fixed I position by the retaining means 52. The carrier may be' provided with a coupling-'clevisifl for connecting-the log carrier to a towing vehicle such as a tractor or the like, not shown. 1

t A flexible membersuch as'the chain 45 '(Figure 2) isg'conneoted at one end to a supporting member or'link 46 carried by the bar 12: .adjacent;:.; one side thereof. The opposite end of the chai'nf :45 is arranged to be detachabl y connected t'o the-i frame by a releasable retaining means,.-which;

preferably comprises a member 41 having its rear S end; portiomformect with a'hook. orrecess '48: for

, receiving 'az'llnlc at the chain: 45 sol asl-adiustablyl toseeure-the same thereto. Themember 4']: has aanormal lyextending horizontal arm. 49 and: is

I i: pivbtedtatillrbetweenl the spaced: bracket arms 5 l'imountedzonthe frame adjacent the side therev of opposite to the member 46*. member normally fits'between thevbracketss 54F and; is retained; in; a. horizontal. position. by a lever 52 having a bifurcated lower end} portion. 53,. thei v arms of; which are disposed outsiideiof; the brackets 5 I! and are; pivotedac; their lower endsthereto as f at 54:,rthus: providing. a: loop 55" (Figure &)r arranged; to overlap'the -lugs and the arm 49 of the member: so as to retainth'e latter in a. fixed positions The-lever 52- conneoted to an actuatv ingrootfifi sothat, when. it is moved: away from I the brackets: 51%, it will-allowthe-member 41- to,

swing: about: its; pivot. Preferably, each; of the} T whleels toms associatedttherewithany suitable. form: of brake mechanism indicated generally as;

I are positioned in the recess [8. adjacent the; rear 7 7 end: thereof and have outwardly and. downwardly curvedportions 62 (Figure 7-) extending upwardly fromz-the frame: to; providefcombined guide and cushioning. means for. maintaining the adjacent endlportionot'the. tongue-1' l9 firmllywithin the recess l8.-when the: member 28; is. lockedthereto; Inclined strutsror bars Stare connected to the armslfit and the sides 21, and. 2:2 of. the frame to iiurther brace thesame; A. long-itudinal strap 7 E4, onthe bar 22 acts as: a. stop for limiting the swinging movementor the lever 3 5.

llrroperation, assuming the parts arain the position asshown; inlfulllines in'Eig ure 3. and it] desired tohaul a logfi i-from theior'est to the or other suitable point ofi'usa, thelog carrier is moved rearwardln or backed- .overthe log to: a point for properly suspending the, log: by the carrier, and when this point. reached, the operator first applies; the brakes- 51- by actuating the rod (tit and then. immediately releases: engage of thelmember 2.8. withthe ream end of the tongue by actuating; therod' 4.1; which causes; the

: shoulder portion 30; otthe member 28 tobermot ed snaps into engagement with the shoulder 30. w'illl be seen that during this movement, the me clined surface 33 on the rear end of the tongue is. then. moved forwardly bythe tractoror other suitable. hauling vehiclg and asithis forward movement continues, the rear end of the tongue which is in an elevated position is lowered and It initially engages the yieldable 11p 32 so as to force theasame: rearwardly against the tension of the spring 38 and when the rear portion of the tongue is'firllypositioned within the recess I8, the shoulder 3%; is-forced outwardly bythe; spring 38! to firmlyand; securely maintaini'the tongue a fixed, locked position on the'carrieru When the log, is hauled to the point where,- it. is ta be.- disoharged-,,the, driver or. operator actuates-thercd 56; thus=releasing thelever, 52yf-rom11engagement with the arm 4910f the member. 4;? and the weight of the log 63. causesthe hook 482 to swing. downwardly about its pivot thus releasing. one end of the chain and the. log. therefirom a;

Willi be seen thairby. reason; of the constrnction and arrangement of: the log; carrier, simple, v efiioienh, economical and positive means are provided for loading and: transportingz'logs and similar shaped articles; front one; placetd another and for releasing and discharging; the logs.

The. carrier isjarrangedrto haul; oneormorelogs and iscapablev of. sustaining: a weight of;v from 10 00040 25,000. pounds andrequires:theuse of only one man. to: connect and releaserthe logs; Usually-i, the'length of the logsare suchvthat the logpiler or shaker appliesythe; chain: to; a log; at a predetermined point so that upon the log. being suspended: by the chainctrom'. the carrier and the framemoved'; fromits inclined! to itss horizontal position, the fiorward endaof: the log engages the underside ot the frame and the rear end; of;- the' log is raised above the? ground: so=that the log or logs are entirely: supported by the frames It, is: to be. understood that, the form. oi the invention shown and: described is; merely 11111151 trative of a preferred embodimentand that'such changes may bezmadeasfallzwithin the purview of one skilled; in; the art; without-departing from the spirit of the claimed: invention.

I claim: 1

1. A log, carrierf'comprisinga supporting frame having depending-spacedv arms at one'end, wheels journaled in said arms, said frame having afor- 'w ardly extending'portiorr provided centrallywith a longitudinal recess, a; tongue. pivotal-1y con.-

nected. to: the sidewalls of. said recess ajnd' having its rear end adapted normally to) fit Ein'said' recess, yieldable locking means on; the frameancl arrangedtoengage therear. end of. the tonguefor releasably maintaining the latter innsaid; recess; alog chainhaving: one;v ends connected to a side.- of

Q the frame, a-member pivotally'mounted onthe an outwardly extending arm, and movable means for, maintaining said armin a: fixed position-,,-the

parts being consttuctedand arranged. so that opposite-side of the frame, said member havin athook for receiving; the other end-or. the chaiirand when the: rear end of the tongue releasedaf-rom locking,- engagement withth frame,.the.- latter resent,

may be tilted rearwardly and the log connected by the chain to the frame, and as the tongue moves forwardly, the rear end thereof is snapped into engagement with the locking means and the log is raised to be supported by the frame, and when it is desired to discharge the log, the movable means is moved out of engagement with said arm and the weight of the log acts to release one end of the chain from the frame.

2. A log carrier comprising a supporting frame having depending spaced arms at one end, wheels journaled in said arms, said frame having a forwardly extending hound provided centrally with a longitudinal recess, a tongue pivotally connected to the side walls of said recess and having its rear end portion arranged normally to fit into said recess, yieldable locking means on the frame andextending transversely of said recess to engage and maintain the rear end of the tongue in the recess, means for releasing the locking means from the tongue to allow the rear end of the frame to be tilted downwardly, a log chain connected at one end to the side ofthe frame, a member pivoted to the opposite sideof the frame and having a hook for receiving the other end of the chain, said member having a forwardly extending arm, and retaining means pivoted to the frame and arranged to engage said arm for preventing the hook from moving downwardly, and means for actuating the retaining means to release it from engagement with said arm, the parts being constructed and arranged so that when the tongue is released. from the locking means, the frame is tilted rearwardly and the chain passed under the logs and connected to said hook so that upon the tongue being moved forwardly it is snapped into engagement with the locking the carrier, and when it is desired to discharge the logs the retaining means is moved out of engagement with the arm of said member and the weight of the logs acts to swing the hook portion downwardly to release the chain.

3. A log carrier comprising a supporting frame having depending spaced arms at one end, wheels journaled in said arms, said frame having a forwardly extending portion provided centrally with a longitudinal recess, a tongue pivotally connected to the side walls of said recess and having its rear end adapted normally to fit in said recess, yieldable locking means on the frame and arranged to engage the rear'end of the tongu for releasably maintaining the latter in said recess,

a log chain having one end connected to a side of the frame, a member pivotally mounted on the opposite side of the frame, said member having a hook for receiving the other end of the chain and an outwardly extending arm, and movable means for maintaining said arm in a fixed position, and brake means associated with the wheels for arresting the rearward movement of the carrier, the parts being constructed and arranged so that when the log carrier is moved rearwardly andthe brakes are applied and the rear end of the tongue is released from looking engagement with the frame, the frame is tilted rearwardly and the log connected by the chain to the frame, and upon release of the brakes and the tongue being moved forwardly, the rear end of the tongue snaps into engagement with the locking means iii means and the logs are raisedto be supported by and the log raised to be supported by the frame,

and when it is desired to release the log, the movable means is moved out of engagement with said arm, so that the weight of the log acts to release the end of the chain from said member todischarge the log.

- 4. A log carrier comprising a, supportingframe having depending spaced arms at one end, wheels joumaled in said arms-said frame having a forwardly extending portion provided-centrally with a longitudinal recess, a tongue pivotally connected to the side wallsof "said recess and'having ltsrear end arranged normally to fit in the recess, releasable means for maintaining the tongue in said recess, said releasable means including a member extending transversely of said recess ad- J'acent the rear end thereof, means pivotally connecting the lower end of said member to the frame said member having at its upper end a forwardly extending shoulder, said shoulder arranged to engage the top of the rear end of the tongue to lock the latter in a fixed position relative to the frame, spring means connected to the frame and said member for normally urging the latter forwardly, and means for moving said mem-, ber rearwardly against the pressure of said spring to release the tongue therefrom to allow the latter to swing about its pivot.

5. A log carrier comprising a supporting frame having depending spaced arms at one end, wheels journaled in said arms, said frame having a forwardly extending portion provided centrally with a longitudinal recess, a tongue pivotally connected to the side walls of said recess and having its rear end arranged normally to fit in the recess, releasable means for maintaining the tongue in said retherefrom to allow the latter to swing about itspivot, and brake means associated with the wheels for arresting the rearward movement of the carrier.

6. A log carrier comprising a supporting frame having depending spaced arms at one end,wheels journaled in said arms, said frame having a forwardly extending portion provided centrally with a longitudinal recess, a tongue pivotally connected to the side walls of said recess and having its rear endarranged normally to fit in the recess, releasable means for maintaining the tongue in said recess, said releasable means including a yieldable member extending transversely of said recess adjacent the rear end thereof, means pivotally connecting the lower end of said member to the frame, said member having at its upper end a} forwardly extending shoulderterm'inating in a rearwardly bent lip portion, said shoulder arranged to engage the top of'the rear end of the tongue to lock the latterin a fixed position rela- I tive to the frame, said tongue having its rear end inclined to engage and coact with said lip por tion for facilitating engagement of the tongue with said shoulder, and spring means connected to the frame and said member for normally urging the latter forwardly.

7. ,A log carrier comprising a supporting frame I having depending spaced arms at one end, wheels journaled in said arms, said frame having a forwardly extending portion provided centrally with a lnngitud inalmecessaatuhguemmotailyiccnnecfgefi to the side walls of said recess and hayingiita real:

end: arrangedl normally.- ta fit; in thBr-1f.CESS,, refle'asasblesmeansvfor maintaining bhe;-tongue in sa'id' recess,, a: log-i chain-1 connected at one: endato' the 7 side ofthg'fxame; a membenrpivoted: to; 1211820};- posits, side'ofl the; fnamegandahavingazhook narcion; for receivingq the.- otrhenend, of; the: chain; said m mbe a e acr ardlyi xt dme 9135113,; a d

I 1 retaining, means pivoted. t -othe i-rameana: a1;- 10

ranged) to! engage; said.v arm; fmni .limegqsmting-.v the hook fnoxmmoying, dcwnward1y5,. andmmeans flan actuating; the retaining? means-.to1re1ease;thejsame weight at the logs acts to-sw-ing; therhOOk down.-

Wardly to release the 10g. 

